The Colorado River Flowed to the Rhythms of the 3rd Annual Viva Laughlin!

Laughlin, Nevada – October 13, 2006. Once again Casino Drive was filled with tourists and locals joining in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the 3rd Annual Viva Laughlin! The festivities, presented by the Laughlin Tourism Committee and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and produced by Pochteca Media, were abundant throughout the casinos on the street, with events and entertainment, both inside and out.

It all began on Friday night where the music and enthusiasm of La Internacional Sonora Show had everyone on their feet, dancing to their cumbia beats. The audience demonstrated their dancing abilities, with that becoming not just a spectator, but part of the show. “We are so excited to have a show like this in Laughlin. The entertainment options for Hispanics are few and far between and we really enjoyed this. We love to dance and this was the first of its kind here. I hope we can see more of this in the future and I thank the people who organized this for doing something for the Hispanic community,” said Kenya Gaeta, a local resident of Bullhead City.

Las Florecitas gave an electrifying performance at the Colorado Belle Hotel Casino Center Circle winning everyone over with their charm and energy on stage. Their voices and affinity helped make this one of the best performances of the night. Janice Schultz and her husband were traveling from Utah and said, “We were just passing through on our way to Yuma. We saw the banners and stopped to see the free show. We decided to stay longer since we really enjoyed ourselves and can’t wait to see what else is in store.”

Everyone headed over to the Caboose Lounge at the Ramada Express Hotel Casino and danced the night away to favorite English and Spanish songs performed by Black Jack. Meanwhile, DJ Fernando “G” Gonzalez spun the hottest tracks outside at Victory Plaza until 2 a.m.

The party continued on Saturday. The Colorado Belle Hotel Casino Center Circle once again showcased Tejano and Cumbia beats with Ambixion and Las Florecitas, but the opening number was the Mexico Vivo folkloric dancers. Delighting the audience with traditional Mexican songs and dances, they created nostalgia among many of days past and a sense of pride.

The Flamingo Hilton welcomed Little Joe y La Familia in their Outdoor Amphitheater. The crowd sang along to his well-known repertoire and danced to his greatest hits. “I have never seen one of his shows, he is absolutely amazing. It turned out to be a great weekend to come here since Viva Laughlin! is happening. We can’t wait to see the other shows tomorrow,” said Tom Williams, who traveled from Arizona to see the show.

While many were enjoying Little Joe y La Familia at the Flamingo Hilton, the Pavilion Theater at the Ramada Express Hotel Casino was jam-packed with fans waiting to see Tierra and Malo. The sold-out show was full of excitement and fun as people of all ages watched them play their legendary Latin Soul hits, like “Suavecito” and “Together”. Everyone was up on their feet, dancing and cheering, creating an atmosphere full of enthusiasm.

To close the festivities on Sunday, La Mafia performed at Don Laughlin’s Celebrity Theater at the Riverside Hotel and Casino. They finished off their four-day stint with an electrifying performance. They interacted with the crowd bringing their fans up on stage and having them sing along to their Grammy winning hits, “Un Millon de Rosas” and “Vida”. To the delight of their fans, they did an autograph session after the show giving everybody the chance to take pictures and exchange a few words with them.

During the four-day festival, the visitors of Laughlin enjoyed various shows throughout the city. They were happy that the casinos once again joined together to bring back Viva Laughlin! for the third consecutive year. “We thank the casinos for bringing back this festival since this month is very important for the Hispanic community. We are glad to see that there is a place we can go to celebrate our heritage and share it with everyone else that comes to Laughlin,” said Alicia Martinez of Glendora, California.

Although the festival is a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the attendees reflect a multi-cultural. What started off as another festival for the Hispanic community has quickly grown into an event that is attended and looked forward to by all. “We love coming here every year for the festival. Next year is our 45th anniversary and we will be celebrating it at Viva Laughlin! with our friends and family,” said Rosita Hernandez from Phoenix, Arizona.

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About the Laughlin Tourism Committee
The Laughlin Tourism Committee, a division of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, provides the strategic vision for the destination of Laughlin. It is responsible for marketing Laughlin to the Southwest and the world.

About Pochteca Media
Pochteca Media is a Multicultural Communications Agency specializing in the gaming and tourism industry. The company has successfully initiated and branded some of the countries most important Hispanic events such as The Edward James Olmos Latino Book & Family Festival, Fiesta Broadway, Fiesta del Sol Chicago, The Alex & Joey Comedy Tour and Las Vegas Caliente. Pochteca Media is also a member of the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association.

About Hispanic Heritage Month
In 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim a week in September as National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a month long celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). During this month, America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Mexico, Spain, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.